Vision:
A cohesive and influential York Region African Canadian community.
Mission:
To facilitate the cultivation of a progressive York Region African Canadian Community, through advocacy and resource development as it relates to culture, education, employment, social services and governmental responsibilities
York Region AACC in an Ontario registered Non-profit organization.
We do not purport to replace or compete with other Afro-centric organization in the region, but rather collaborate with the existing entities, taking a regional as opposed to a more parochial perspective.
Background
Racism and family challenges are among a complex set of problems that have led to black youth in our communities continuing to experience disproportionately negative outcomes, including unemployment, violence and a lack of opportunities. It is evidenced by:
• Over-representation of Black children and youth within the child welfare system
• Achievement gap between Black students and all students within the publicly-funded education system
• Disproportionate number of Black males involved in the youth justice and justice systems.
A part of the recurring problem is believed to lie in the lack of cultural identity and cultural consciousness which leads to a segment of our youth inventing their own culture, frequently with negative consequences.
The University of Houston-Victoria School of Arts and Sciences demonstrated through research that:
Significant positive relationships were found between Black consciousness and self-esteem and Black consciousness and academic self-efficacy. The results of the study showed that Black consciousness appears to be an important construct to use in understanding self-esteem and academic self-efficacy in African American men.
Another study also showed that black males who possess positive attitudes about their race tend to have a heightened sense of academic self-efficacy (Okech & Harrington, 2002).
Black youth in York Region, 3% of the diverse population, have the same negative experiences as their peers in other parts of the GTA.
There is a major void within YRDSB, YRCAS, The Faith Sector and The African Canadian Community in the celebration and maintenance of cultural practices and history of people of African Heritage.
The York Region Alliance of African Canadian Communities, is committed to taking steps to close this gap, and proposes to start by piloting a program of raising cultural consciousness by way of an afro-centric summer program for African Canadian students.
It is imperative that we engage our children in positive behaviors and cultural consciousness at the early stages of their lives, opening a portal to a safer and more cohesive community.
The Program
A York Region African Canadian Summer Cultural Program for Students of African Heritage between the ages of 9 – 15 years. (Maximum 20 Students)
The Program will be a 3 days per week schedule, (Tue-Thru) 5 hours per day, 10am to 3pm for 5 weeks. Starting the Week of July 16th 2017 and ending the week of August 13th 2017.
Activities will included for example:
Introduction to African Studies relating to Africa, Canada and the Caribbean.
Understanding and Practicing the 7 Principles of Kwanzaa.
Presentations by African Canadian Role Models and Elders.
The Teaching of African Drumming & Dancing.
Ensemble.
The York Region African Canadian Summer Cultural Program for Students of African Heritage is aimed at consciousness raising and provides alternatives spheres of realities for Youth of African descent; drawing upon and integrating principles of the Nguzo Saba, (7 principles of Kwanzaa) eldership respect, healthy living, and community responsibility, all designed to contribute to protective factors (Gilbert et al., 2009). It also will incorporate traditional practices, education, and arts such as drum and dance.
Activities and discussions will lead to answers to the following questions (Paul Hill NROP)
1. Who am I?
• What values, history, traditions and cultural precepts do I recognize, respect, and continue:
2. How did I come to be who I am?
• What were/are the forces, events, people which have come together to frame who I am?
3. Am I really who I think I am?
• To what extent do I understand, internalize, employ, and reflect the cultural authenticity of my origins?
4. What is my life purpose? (What are my Goals).
Expected Results
Program participants have increased cultural consciousness and self esteem, and expresses a motivation to maintain high morals, and excel academically. (Pre and post program interviews conducted)
Budget
ITEMS AMOUNT UNIT COST TOTAL
Drums 10 $ 400.00 $ 4,000.00
Lunch 300 $ 10.00 $ 3,000.00
Honorarium 15 $ 100.00 $ 1,500.00
Salary (3 x 75 Hrs) 225 $ 15.00 $ 3,375.00
Accessories / Stationaries 1 $ 300.00 $ 300.00
Subtotal $ 12,175.00
Contingency 10% $ 1,217.50
Insurance $ 750.00
$ 14,142.50
Facility Rental $ 4,500.00
$ 18,642.50
The York Region Alliance of African Canadian Communities is actively seeking partnerships with government, public and private sector and civil society organizations through funding or in-kind support to make this summer program for African Canadian Students a reality.
The Camp is intended to enhance the participants Cultural Identity from a Collective Impact model CI-sq.
Students and their parents, government stakeholders, community leaders and philanthropists will support from a holistic perspective, each partner reinforcing and contributing to the importance of the expected outcome.
Email: info@yorkregionaacc.ca www.yorkregionaacc.ca
Phone: Lee Miller 416 688 2813
